It's time to debunk the myth that heterosexuals don't need to worry about HIV prevention, as a new study finds that some appear to face a higher than average risk.

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Many heterosexuals think that they are not at risk for HIV infection. Instead, they wrongly believe that only same-sex intercourse is associated with HIV. However, the fact that is that heterosexuals are not safe from this potentially deadly STD. In fact, new research published in this week’s CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report has found that heterosexuals are at increased risk for HIV.

The researchers studied 21 metropolitan cities which are known to have a high incidence of AIDS. They found that heterosexuals who are of low socioeconomic status are at-disproportionate risk for HIV. (In this study, low socioeconomic status referred to people who lived below the poverty line or those who had not completed more than a high school education.)

Additionally, the researchers found that certain individuals were at increased risk for infection, including those who lived in the Northeast or South, those who completed the least amount of education, those who had exchange sex, and those who used crack cocaine.

The study also showed that many people in the study had never been tested for HIV. 26 percent had never had an HIV test, including 44 percent of those who tested positive.

These findings are disturbing, but also illuminating, as they show us that we need to greatly improve our education on STD/HIV prevention in these areas. While the Obama administration is currently working to improve sex education in schools, studies such as these reveal that these efforts alone will not be enough. We also need to improve education for the public and the community, because sadly many people in low economic situations are forced to drop out of school before they have completed their education. This means that they will not have access to sex ed information, and as evidenced by these findings, these are the communities that so desperately need better information and protection.

The first thing to do is to ensure that urban legends regarding HIV infection are debunked, most notably when it comes to the wrong-headed and bigoted belief that only gay people are at risk for HIV. It’s important for everyone to know and understand that there is no such thing as safe sex, and that everyone who engages in sex is at risk for HIV and STD infection. Even though safer sex tools such as condoms and dental dams can decrease STD risk, they are not 100 percent foolproof methods.

It’s also important for people to understand that all sexual activity comes with risk of STDs. This includes intercourse, anal sex, and oral sex. Getting tested regularly is key, as is limiting your number of partners and ensuring that they too are tested on a regular basis.

The best way to help decrease HIV infections in these high-risk populations is through education. Knowledge is empowerment, and when people are given the information that they need to protect themselves, they can and will make smart choices when it comes to their sexual health. Together, we can keep the next generation from experiencing the turmoil and heartache of HIV.

Last Updated: 3/14/2013

Laura Berman, PhD, is a leading sex and relationship educator and therapist, popular TV and radio host, New York Times best-selling author, and assistant clinical professor of ob-gyn and psychiatry at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago.

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